Camera module and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a camera module including: a camera body including a lens-barrel holding a shooting optical system, a substrate attached to the lens-barrel, an image pickup device incorporated in the lens-barrel and operative to pick up an image of an object focused by the shooting optical system and to output an image pickup signal, and a signal processing unit provided on the substrate and operative to receive the image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup device and to perform a predetermined signal processing; and a shield case covering the lens-barrel and the substrate and operative to provide electromagnetic shielding for the image pickup device and the signal processing unit.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2005-315313 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Oct.28, 2005, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera module and an electronicapparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years there have been provided electronic apparatuses such ascellular phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) in which a cameramodule is incorporated.

A camera module includes a lens-barrel holding a shooting opticalsystem, a substrate attached to the rear end of the lens-barrel, animage pickup device incorporated in the lens-barrel and operative topick up an image of an object guided by the shooting optical system andto output an image pickup signal, and a signal processing unit providedon the substrate and operative to receive the image pickup signaloutputted from the image pickup device and to perform a predeterminedsignal processing, and a shield case is provided for covering thelens-barrel and the substrate and providing electromagnetic shieldingfor the image pickup device and the signal processing unit (refer to,for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2005-86341).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Meanwhile, the lens-barrel of such a camera module is in many casesconfigured by stacking a plurality of lens-barrel component members.

In such a lens-barrel, even where the dispersions of dimensions of eachlens-barrel component member are within the respective ranges ofpermissible errors, the dispersions of dimensions of the lens-barrelcomponent members are added in the direction of stacking of theplurality of lens-barrel component members.

Therefore, how to position the shield case relative to the lens-barrelconfigured by stacking the plurality of lens-barrel component membersand how to mount the shield case to the lens-barrel without possibilityof chattering in the stacking direction of the plurality of lens-barrelcomponent members are important problems.

Thus, there is a need for a camera module and an electronic apparatuswhich are advantageous for positioning a shield case relative to alens-barrel and mounting the shield case to the lens-barrel withoutpossibility of chattering, in the direction of stacking of a pluralityof lens-barrel component members.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided acamera module including a camera body and a shield case. The camera bodyincluding: a lens-barrel holding a shooting optical system; a substrateattached to the lens-barrel; an image pickup device incorporated in thelens-barrel and operative to pick up an image of an object focused bythe shooting optical system and to output an image pickup signal; and asignal processing unit provided on the substrate and operative toreceive the image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup deviceand to perform a predetermined signal processing. The shield casecovering the lens-barrel and the substrate and operative to provideelectromagnetic shielding for the image pickup device and the signalprocessing unit. The lens-barrel includes a plurality of lens-barrelcomponent members stacked together, and a clamping mechanism is providedby which a portion of two lens-barrel component members adjacent to eachother is clamped from both ends in the direction of said stacking,whereby the shield case is positioned relative to the lens-barrel andmounted to the lens-barrel, in the direction of the stacking.

Besides, according to another embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided an electronic apparatus including a casing, and a cameramodule incorporated in the casing. The camera module includes a camerabody, and a shield case. The camera body includes: a lens-barrel holdinga shooting optical system; a substrate attached to the lens-barrel; animage pickup device incorporated in the lens-barrel and operative topick up an image of an object focused by the shooting optical system andto output an image pickup signal; and a signal processing unit providedon the substrate and operative to receive the image pickup signaloutputted from the image pickup device and to perform a predeterminedsignal processing. The shield case covers the lens-barrel and thesubstrate and provides electromagnetic shielding for the image pickupdevice and the signal processing unit. The lens-barrel includes aplurality of lens-barrel component members stacked together. A clampingmechanism is provided by which a portion of two lens-barrel componentmembers adjacent to each other is clamped from both ends in thedirection of the stacking, whereby the shield case is positionedrelative to the lens-barrel and mounted to the lens-barrel, in thedirection of the stacking.

According to the present invention, the clamping mechanism for clampinga portion of two adjacent lens-barrel component members by the shieldcase from both ends in the direction of stacking of the lens-barrelcomponent members is provided. Therefore, even if the dispersions ofdimensions of the lens-barrel component members are added in thestacking direction, this configuration is advantageous for positioningthe shield case relative to the lens-barrel in the stacking directionand for mounting the shield case to the lens-barrel without possibilityof chattering in the stacking direction of the two lens-barrel componentmembers.

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferredembodiments of the present invention by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B each show an appearance of an example of a cellularphone with a camera module incorporated therein;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the camera module;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the camera module;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the camera module in the state of beingincorporated in a first casing;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the camera module from which ashield case has been detached;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of the camera module from whichthe shield case has been detached;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the camera module, with a rear splitbody detached therefrom FIG. 8 is a view along arrow A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a front split body 42 constituting theshield case;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of the front split bodyconstituting the shield case;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the rear split body constituting theshield case, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view, from inside, of therear split body constituting the shield case;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, from the rear side, of the camera module;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of main parts of the front split body andthe rear split body;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, from the rear side, of the camera module;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the camera module;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view, from the front side, of thecamera module;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view, from the rear side, of thecamera module;

FIG. 20 is a side view showing the condition where the front split bodyand the rear split body mounted to a lens-barrel (corresponding to aview along arrow A of FIG. 2B);

FIG. 21 is a side view showing the condition where the front split bodyand the rear split body are mounted to the lens-barrel (corresponding toa view along arrow B of FIG. 2B);

FIG. 22 is a side view showing the condition where the front split bodyand the rear split body are mounted to the lens-barrel (corresponding toa view along arrow C of FIG. 2B); and

FIG. 23 is a side view showing the condition where the front split bodyand the rear split body are mounted to the lens-barrel (corresponding toa view along arrow D of FIG. 2B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

Now, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described belowreferring to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B each show an appearance of an example of a cellularphone 10 as an electronic apparatus with a camera module incorporatedtherein.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the cellular phone 10 has first and secondcasings 14 and 16 which are swingably connected to each other through ahinge portion 12.

A liquid crystal display panel 1402 is provided at the inside surface ofthe first casing 14, and operating switches 1602 such as ten-keys andfunctional keys are provided at the inside surface of the second casing16.

A camera module 20 is incorporated in a base end portion of the firstcasing 14, and an image shot by the camera module 20 is displayed on theliquid crystal display panel 1402.

FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the cameramodule 20, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the camera module 20 in thestate of being incorporated in the first casing 14, and FIGS. 5A and 5Band FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of the camera module 20 fromwhich a shield case 40 has been removed.

The camera module 20 includes a camera body 22 and the shield case 40.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, the camera body 22 includes alens-barrel 26 holding a shooting optical system 24, a substrate 28attached to the lens-barrel 26, an image pickup device 30 incorporatedin the lens-barrel 26 and operative to pick up an image focused by theshooting optical system 24 and to output an image pickup signal, and asignal processing unit 32 provided on the substrate 28 and operative toreceive the image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup device30 and to perform a predetermined signal processing (see FIGS. 7 and 8.

The lens-barrel 26 has a front end and a rear end at both side positionsalong the optical axis of the shooting optical system 24, and an opticalmember 2402 (in this embodiment, a lens cover) constituting the shootingoptical system 24 and located at a frontmost position is disposed in thestate of being exposed at the front end of the lens-barrel 26.

The lens-barrel 26 is rectangular in shape, and is provided in itscenter with a containing space penetrating therethrough in thefront-rear direction, in other words, extending along the optical axisof the shooting optical system 24.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the camera module 20, with a rear splitbody 44 detached therefrom, and FIG. 8 is a view along arrow A of FIG.7.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the substrate 28 is attached to the rear endof the lens-barrel 26.

The substrate 28 is rectangular in shape, and includes a front surface28A fronting on the lens-barrel 26, and a rear surface 28B located onthe opposite side.

The substrate 28 is formed with a profile greater than that of the rearsurface constituting the rear end of the lens-barrel 26, and the fourside portions of the substrate 28 protrude to the outside of the foursides of the rear surface of the lens-barrel 26.

A flexible substrate 34 is laid on the front surface 28A and attached tothe front surface 28A by soldering, and an image pickup device 30 ismounted in a location where the flexible substrate 34 fronts on thelens-barrel 26.

Electronic component parts inclusive of various ICs and the likeconstituting the signal processing unit 32 are mounted on the rearsurface 28B.

Besides, the rear surface 28B is provided with a ground land 2802 set ata reference potential.

Incidentally, in FIGS. 7 and 8, symbol 34A denotes a connector providedat the tip end of the flexible substrate 34.

FIG. 9, 10A and 10B are perspective views of a front split body 42constituting the shield case 40, FIG. 11A is a perspective view of therear split body 44 constituting the shield case 40, and FIG. 11B is aperspective view, from inside, of the rear split body 44 constitutingthe shield case 40.

The shield case 40 is configured to cover the lens-barrel 26 and thesubstrate 28 and to provide electromagnetic shielding for the imagepickup device 30 and the signal processing unit 32.

The shield case 40, in this embodiment, is composed of the front splitbody 42 covering a front portion of the lens-barrel 26, and the rearsplit body 44 covering a rear portion of the lens-barrel 26.

The front split body 42 and the rear split body 44 are both formed of anelectrically conductive and non-magnetic material such as phosphorbronze, nickel silver, tinplate and copper.

First, the rear split body 44 of the shield case 40 will be described asfollows.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the rear split body 44 has a rectangularsubstrate covering plate part 4402, and side surface portions 4404rising up from the four sides of the substrate covering plate part 4402and extending along the side portions of the lens-barrel 26.

Of the two opposed pairs of side surface portions 4404, one opposed pairof side surface portions 4404 are provided with lock parts 4410 whichare disengageably locked to the front surface 28A of the substrate 28and the locking of which inhibits the substrate covering plate part 4402from moving in a direction of spacing away from the substrate 28.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, from the rear side, of the camera module20, and FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG.12.

A grounding contact piece 4420 for grounding the shield case 40 isprovided at the side surface portion 4404.

The grounding contact piece 4420 is projected from the side surfaceportion 4404, extends in a direction intersecting with the direction ofspacing away and approaching of the substrate covering plate part 4402relative to the substrate 28, and has a tip portion joined to the groundland 2802 by soldering.

Specifically, the side surface portion 4404 is provided with an armportion 4422 which projects from the side surface portion 4404, extendsin a direction intersecting with the direction of spacing away andapproaching of the substrate covering plate part 4402 relative to thesubstrate 28, and is elastically deformable in the direction of spacingaway and approaching of the substrate covering plate part 4402 relativeto the substrate 28. The grounding contact piece 4420 is provided at thetip end of the arm portion 4422.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 11B, an insulating and elastic cushion material46 is disposed between the substrate 28 and the substrate covering platepart 4402.

As the cushion material 46, there can be used an insulating andnon-magnetic material, for example, foamed polyurethane or the like.Incidentally, foamed polyurethane is higher than air in thermalconductivity.

Besides, as shown in FIG. 4, with the lock parts 4410 locked to thecamera body 22 (in this embodiment, the front surface 28A of thesubstrate 28), the cushion material 46 is disposed in a compressed statebetween the substrate 28 and the substrate covering plate part 4402.

In other words, the lock parts 4410 are normally locked to the camerabody 22 by the elastic force of the cushion material 46, whereby therear split body 44 is mounted on the camera body 22 without possibilityof chattering.

The cushion material 46 is composed of a plate-like member having auniform thickness, so that the substrate 28 and the substrate coveringplate part 4402 are parallel to each other.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of main parts of the front split body 42 andthe rear split body 44.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the condition where the front split body 42 andthe rear split body 44 are mounted on the camera body 22, a part 4204Aof the tip end of the side surface portion 4204 of the front split body42 and a part 4404A of the tip end of the side surface portion 4404 ofthe rear split body 44 make elastic contact with each other, whereby thefront split body 42 and the rear split body 44 are electricallyconnected to each other.

Besides, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, in incorporating thecamera module 20 into a base end portion of the first casing 14, aplate-like rubber vibration isolator 48 is interposed on the outsidesurface of the substrate covering plate part 4402, and four leg parts5250 (see FIG. 18) projected from the lens-barrel body 52 are attachedto an inside wall 1410 of the first casing 14, whereby the camera module20 is disposed in position. To be more specific, the four leg parts 5250projected from the lens-barrel body 52 are engaged with engaging partsof the inside wall 1410 of the first casing 14, whereby the rubbervibration isolator 48 is mounted in a compressed state and is made todisplay a cushioning action so as to prevent the rear split body 44 fromslipping out of position.

With such a rear split body 44 provided, the following effects aredisplayed.

Even if an impact is exerted on the camera module 20 due to dropping ofthe cellular phone 10 or the like, the presence of the cushion material46 interposed between the substrate covering plate part 4402 and thesubstrate 28, in addition to the cushioning action of the rubbervibration isolator 48, ensures that the cushioning action of the cushionmaterial 46 prevents an irrational force from acting on the portionbetween the rear split body 44 and the substrate 28, which isadvantageous in securing the impact resistance of the camera module 20.

In addition, since the cushion material 46 is disposed in a compressedstate between the substrate 28 and the substrate covering plate part4402 and the lock part 4410 is normally locked to the camera body 22 bythe elastic force of the cushion material 46, this configuration isadvantageous in mounting the rear split body 44 on the camera body 22without possibility of chattering.

Besides, since the rear split body 44 is joined to the ground land 2802of the substrate 28 through the arm part 4422 and the grounding contactpiece 4420, an impact force will be damped by flexure of the arm part4422 when an impact is exerted on the camera module 20. Therefore, anirrational force would not act on the joint portion between thegrounding contact piece 4420 and the ground land 2802, which isadvantageous in securing the shock resistance of the joint portionbetween the grounding contact piece 4420 and the ground land 2802.

Further, where the cushion material 46 is composed of a material higherthan air in thermal conductivity, such as foamed polyurethane, the heatgenerated in the substrate 28 will easily be transferred to the rearsplit body 44 through the cushion material 46, which is advantageous forefficient cooling of the substrate 28.

Incidentally, the grounding contact piece 4420 put in contact with theground land 2802 may be configured as follows.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, from the rear side, of a camera module,and FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. 15.

While the grounding contact piece 4420 and the ground land 2802 arejoined to each other by soldering in the above-described embodiment, inthis embodiment a grounding contact piece 4420 and the ground land 2802are normally kept in contact with each other by utilizing the elasticityof the arm part 4422; other points of configuration in this embodimentare the same as in the above-described embodiment.

In this embodiment, the arm part 4422 is provided which projects fromthe side surface portion 4404, extends in a direction intersecting thedirection of spacing away and approaching of the substrate coveringplate part 4402 relative to the substrate 28, and is deformable in thedirection of spacing away and approaching of the substrate coveringplate part 4402 relative to the substrate 28.

The arm part 4422 is provided at its tip end with the grounding contactpiece 4420 capable of making contact with the ground land 2802.

The grounding contact piece 4420 is put into contact with the groundland 2802 and the contact condition is maintained, by the elasticity ofthe arm part 4422.

According to such a grounding contact piece 4420, the need for asoldering work is eliminated, which is advantageous in contriving asimpler assemblage, as compared with the case where the groundingcontact piece 4420 and the ground land 2802 are soldered to each other.

In addition, since the grounding contact piece 4420 and the ground land2802 are not fixed rigidly, the force exerted on the joint portionbetween the grounding contact piece 4420 and the ground land 2802 can belessened, which is more advantageous in securing the shock resistance ofthe joint portion between the grounding contact piece 4420 and theground land 2802.

Besides, the lock part 4410 may be locked to the front split body 42.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a camera module 20 in the state of beingincorporated in a first casing 14.

While the lock parts 4410 for inhibiting the substrate covering platepart 4402 from moving away from the substrate 28 are locked to thecamera body 22 in the above-described embodiment, in this embodimentlock parts 4410A are locked to a front split body 42; the other pointsof configuration in this embodiment are the same as in theabove-described embodiment.

Specifically, the lock parts 4410A are provided at tip ends of one pairof side surface portions 4404 of two opposed pairs of side surfaceportions 4404 of the rear split body 44.

The lock parts 4410A can be locked to lock parts 4230 of the front splitbody 42, and, by the locking of the lock parts 4410A to the lock parts4230 of the front split body 42, the substrate covering plate part 4402is inhibited from moving away from the substrate 28.

In addition, a plate-like rubber vibration isolator 48 is interposed onthe outside surface of the substrate covering plate part 4402, and fourleg portions 5250 (see FIG. 18) projected from the lens-barrel body 52are attached to the inside wall 1410 of the first casing 14, whereby thecamera module 20 is disposed in position.

By such lock parts 4410, also, the same effects as in theabove-described embodiment are displayed.

Incidentally, while the case where an elastic and insulating plate-likemember is used as the cushion material 46 has been described, a singleor a plurality of coil springs formed from an elastic and insulatingwire or the like can be used as the cushion material 46. However, theuse of the plate-like member as in the above-described embodiment isadvantageous in contriving a simpler structure and an easier assemblage.

Now, the portion of the lens-barrel 26 covered with the front split body42, the front split body 42, and a clamping mechanism 60, which are mainparts in the present invention, will be described below.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view, from the front side, of thecamera module 20, and FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view, from therear side, of the camera module 20.

The lens-barrel 26 is configured by stacking a plurality of lens-barrelcomponent members.

Specifically, the lens-barrel 26 is configured by stacking a shuttersupporting housing 50 and a lens-barrel body 52 along the optical axisdirection of the shooting optical system 24. To be more specific, thelens-barrel body 52 is configured by stacking a front lens-barrel 54 anda rear lens-barrel 56 along the optical axis direction of the shootingoptical system 24, and the front lens-barrel 54 and the rear lens-barrel56 are joined to each other by a UV-curable type adhesive (UV adhesive).

Incidentally, the shutter supporting housing 50 as well as the frontlens-barrel 54 and the rear lens-barrel 56 have dispersions ofdimensions thereof, but the dispersions are within the respective rangesof permissible errors.

The shutter supporting housing 50 is provided in its center with anaperture 5002 of an optical path of the shooting optical system 24, anda shutter (not shown) for opening and closing the aperture 5002 and ashutter driving unit (not shown) are provided in the inside of theshutter supporting housing 50. Incidentally, the shutter supportinghousing 50 corresponds to the front end lens-barrel component memberlocated at the front end in the optical axis direction of the shootingoptical system, of the plurality of lens-barrel component membersstacked together, in the present invention.

The shutter supporting housing 50 is connected to a boss part 5401 ofthe front lens-barrel 54 by a screw 5004, in the state of beingpositioned relative to the front lens-barrel 54.

Of the shutter supporting housing 50, a portion on the opposite side ofthe front lens-barrel 54 is formed as a flat front surface 5006, and aportion on the opposite side of the front surface 5006 is formed as aflat rear surface 5008.

An optical member 2402 (lens cover) constituting the shooting opticalsystem 24 and located at the frontmost end in the optical axis directionof the shooting optical system 24 is attached to the front surface 5006by a double sided pressure sensitive adhesive tape so as to close theaperture 5002.

In FIG. 18, symbol 5010 denotes a flexible substrate configured tocontrol the above-mentioned shutter driving unit.

The front lens-barrel 54 has a front surface 5402 mated to the rearsurface 5008 of the shutter supporting housing 50, and the front surface5402 is rectangular in shape.

Therefore, a front portion of the lens-barrel body 52 has a frontsurface 5006, and side portions of the lens-barrel body 52 have fourside surfaces 5202 corresponding to the four sides of the front surface5006.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, of the four side surfaces 5202, one sidesurface 5202 is projectingly provided with two lock projections 5210,the remaining two side surfaces 5202 are each provided with a singlelock projection 5210, and the remaining one side surface is not providedwith such a projection. In this embodiment, the lock projections 5210are provided in the front lens-barrel 54.

Incidentally, in FIGS. 18 and 19, symbol 3002 denotes a CMOS sensor asan image pickup sensor mounted on the flexible substrate 34 andoperative to pick up an image of an object and to produce an imagepickup signal, symbol 3004 denotes a rectangular package attached to theflexible substrate 34 so as to contain the CMOS sensor 3002, and symbol3006 denotes a cover glass covering the front surface of the package3004 and sealing the CMOS sensor 3002 in the package 3004. The CMOSsensor 3002, the package 3004, and the cover glass 3006 constitute theimage pickup device 30. Incidentally, while the CMOS sensor 3002 is usedas the image pickup sensor in this embodiment, the present invention isnot limited to this configuration, and, naturally, a CCD sensor or otherknown sensors can also be used.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 9, 10A and 10B, the front split body 42 has arectangular front surface covering plate part 4202 covering the frontsurface 5006 of the shutter supporting housing 50, and four side surfaceportions 4204 bent from the four sides of the front surface coveringplate part 4202.

The front surface covering plate part 4202 is provided with an opening4206 at a position corresponding to the optical member 2402 (lenscover).

In addition, spring pieces 4210 are integrally formed at four positionsalong the periphery of the front surface covering plate part 4202.

The spring pieces 4210 are each provided over the range from the frontsurface covering plate part 4202 to the side surface portion 4204 so asto be elastically deformable in the direction of spacing away from andapproaching the front surface covering plate part 4202, in other words,to be elastically deformable in the optical axis direction of theshooting optical system 24, and further in other words, to beelastically deformable in the direction of stacking of the plurality oflens-barrel component members.

In this embodiment, two spring pieces 4210 are formed at both ends ofone side of the front surface covering plate part 4202, and one springpiece 4210 is formed at an end portion of each of the two sidesintersecting with the one side.

The side surface portion 4204 provided with two spring piece 4210 isformed with a locking opening 4208 at a position spaced from the springpiece 4210 along the elastic deformation direction of the spring piece4210 (along the stacking direction of the plurality of lens-barrelcomponent members).

Besides, the side surface portion 4204 provided with one spring piece4210 is formed with a locking opening 4208 at a position spaced from thespring piece 4210 along the elastic deformation direction of the springpiece 4210 (along the stacking direction of the plurality of lens-barrelcomponent members).

As shown in FIG. 10A, a vertically extending vertical groove 4212 isprovided in a side portion relative to one locking-opening 4208.

As shown in FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B, at an end portion of the side surfaceportion 4204 passing through each locking opening 4208 in the directionof spacing away from the front surface plate part 4202, a bent piece4220 bent to the outside of the side surface portion 4204 is provided sothat, at the time of mounting the front split body 42 onto the camerabody 22 (the lens-barrel body 52), the lock projections 5210 will besmoothly guided to the corresponding locking openings 4208.

Incidentally, in plan view, the profile of the four sides of the shuttersupporting housing 50 is slightly larger than the profile of the fourside surfaces 5202 of the lens-barrel body 52; therefore, with theinside surfaces of the four side surface portions 4204 abutted on thefour sides of the shutter supporting housing 50, the front split body 42is positioned in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis directionof the shooting optical system 24, and the center of the opening 4206 ofthe front split body 42 is aligned to the optical axis of the shootingoptical system 24 (the center of the optical member 2402 (lens cover)).

FIGS. 20 to 23 are side views showing the condition where the frontsplit body 42 and the rear split body 44 are mounted to the lens-barrel26, in which FIG. 20 corresponds to a view along arrow A of FIG. 2B,FIG. 21 corresponds to a view along arrow B of FIG. 2B, FIG. 22corresponds to a view along arrow C of FIG. 2B, and FIG. 23 correspondsto a view along arrow D of FIG. 2B.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 20 to 23, the front surface covering plate part4202 and the side surface portions 4204 cover the front surface 5006 andthe side surfaces 5202 of the lens-barrel body 52, the spring pieces4210 are locked to the front surface 5006 (the front surface 2602), andthe lock projections 5210 are inserted into the locking openings 4208,whereon the spring pieces 4210 are elastically deformed, the springpieces 4210 are pressed against the front surface 5006, and the portionof each lock projection 5210 located oppositely to the front surface5006 is normally pressed against the edge 4208A, located at a positionaway from the spring piece 4210, of the locking opening 4208. In thisembodiment, the front surface 5006 of the lens-barrel body 52constitutes a lock surface to which the spring pieces 4210 are locked.

In this embodiment, the spring pieces 4210, the front surface 5006 ofthe lens-barrel body 52, the lock projections 5210, and the lockingopenings 4208 constitute a clamping mechanism 60 which functions so thatthe portion of the two adjacent lens-barrel component members is clampedfrom both ends in the above-mentioned stacking direction, whereby theshield case 40 is positioned relative to the lens-barrel 26 and mountedto the lens-barrel 26, in the stacking direction.

Besides, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, in the condition wherethe two adjacent lens-barrel component members, i.e., the shuttersupporting housing 50 and the lens-barrel body 52, are clamped by theshield case 40 (the front split body 42) through the clamping mechanism60, a gap S along the optical axis direction of the shooting opticalsystem 24 is secured between the front surface covering plate part 4202of the shield case 40 and the front surface 2602 of the lens-barrel 26.

According to this embodiment, the clamping mechanism 60 is provided sothat the portion of the stacked and adjacent two lens-barrel componentmembers, i.e., the portion of the shutter supporting housing 50 and thelens-barrel body 52, is clamped by the shield case 40 (the front splitbody 42) from both sides in the direction of the stacking. Therefore,even if the dispersions of dimensions of the shutter supporting housing50 and the lens-barrel body 52 are added in the stacking direction, thisconfiguration is advantageous in positioning the front split body 42relative to the lens-barrel body 52 in the stacking direction, and inmounting the front split body 42 onto the lens-barrel body 52 withoutpossibility of chattering in the stacking direction.

In addition, in this embodiment, the spring pieces 4210 provided in thefront split body 42 are pressed against the front surface 5006 (locksurface) of the lens-barrel body 52, and the portions where the lockprojections 5210 inserted in the locking openings 4208 are locatedoppositely to the front surface 5006 are pressed against the edges4208A, located at positions spaced away from the spring pieces 4210, ofthe locking openings 4208. Therefore, this configuration is advantageousfor accurately positioning the shield case 40 (the front split body 42)relative to the lens-barrel body 52 in the stacking direction, with theportions where the lock projections 5210 are located oppositely to thefront surface 5006 as a reference, or with the edges 4208A, located atpositions spaced from the spring pieces 4210, of the locking openings4208, as a reference.

Besides, the condition where the shield case 40 (the front split body42) is accurately positioned relative to the lens-barrel body 52 withoutpossibility of chattering in the above-mentioned stacking direction isadvantageous in preventing the so-called eclipse, i.e., the phenomenonin which the optical path ranging from an object to be shot to theshooting optical system 24 of the lens-barrel body 52 is obstructed byan edge portion constituting the opening 4206 of the shield case 40.

In addition, in this embodiment, the gap S is secured between the frontsurface covering plate part 4202 of the shield case 40 and the frontsurface 5006 of the lens-barrel body 52. Therefore, where an externalforce in a rearward direction of from the front side of the cameramodule 20 toward the lens-barrel body 52, the presence of the gap S asabove-mentioned is advantageous for lessening the impact on the frontsurface 5006 of the lens-barrel 52.

Incidentally, while the case where a plurality of lens-barrel componentmembers are stacked along the optical axis direction of the shootingoptical system 24 has been described in the above embodiment, thepresent invention naturally is applicable to the case where a pluralityof lens-barrel component members are stacked in a direction orthogonalto the optical axis direction of the shooting optical system 24. In thiscase, according to the present invention, the shield case 40 ispositioned relative to the lens-barrel body 52 in the direction ofstacking of the plurality of lens-barrel component members, so that theoptical path of the shooting optical system 24 and the opening 4206provided in the shield case 40 can be accurately positioned, which isadvantageous in preventing the so-called eclipse.

In addition, while the case where the spring pieces 4210, the frontsurface 5006 of the lens-barrel body 52, the lock projections 5210 andthe locking openings 4208 constitute the clamping mechanism 60 has beendescribed in the above embodiment, the configuration of the clampingmechanism 60 is not limited to this configuration, and known variousclamping structures may be adopted. However, the configuration of theclamping mechanism 60 as in the above embodiment is advantageous forsimplifying the structure.

Besides, while the case where the plurality of lens-barrel componentmembers include two members, namely, the shutter supporting housing 50and the lens-barrel body 52 has been described in the above embodiment,the number of the lens-barrel component members may naturally be threeor more.

Furthermore, while the case where the electronic apparatus is a cellularphone 10 has been described in the above embodiment, the presentinvention is widely applicable to portable information terminals such asPDA, notebook type personal computers, etc. and various shootingapparatuses such as digital still cameras, video cameras, etc.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design and other factors insofar as they are within thescope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A camera module comprising: a camera body including a lens-barrelholding a shooting optical system, a substrate attached to saidlens-barrel, an image pickup device incorporated in said lens-barrel andoperative to pick up an image of an object focused by said shootingoptical system and to output an image pickup signal, and a signalprocessing unit provided on said substrate and operative to receive saidimage pickup signal outputted from said image pickup device and toperform a predetermined signal processing; and a shield case coveringsaid lens-barrel and said substrate and operative to provideelectromagnetic shielding for said image pickup device and said signalprocessing unit; wherein said lens-barrel includes a plurality oflens-barrel component members stacked together; and a clamping mechanismis provided by which a portion of two said lens-barrel component membersadjacent to each other is clamped from both ends in the direction ofsaid stacking, whereby said shield case is positioned relative to saidlens-barrel and mounted to said lens-barrel, in the direction of saidstacking.
 2. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein thefront end lens-barrel component member located at the front end in theoptical axis direction of said shooting optical system, of saidplurality of lens-barrel component members, has a front surface formedwith an aperture of an optical path constituting said shooting opticalsystem, said shield case has a front surface covering plate partcovering the front surface of said front end lens-barrel componentmember, and said front surface covering plate part is provided with anopening at a position corresponding to said aperture of said opticalpath.
 3. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidclamping mechanism includes: an elastically deformable spring pieceprovided in said shield case; a locking opening provided at a positionof said shield case spaced from said spring piece along the direction ofelastic deformation of said spring piece; a lock surface which isprovided in one of two said lens-barrel component members adjacent toeach other and to which said spring piece is locked; and a projectionwhich is provided in the other of two said lens-barrel component membersadjacent to each other and which is inserted in said locking opening;wherein, by the locking of said spring piece to said lock surface andthe insertion of said projection in said locking opening, said springpiece is elastically deformed, said spring piece is pressed against saidlock surface, and a portion of said projection located oppositely tosaid lock surface is normally pressed against to an edge, located at aposition spaced from said spring piece, of said locking opening.
 4. Thecamera module as set forth in claim 3, wherein the front end lens-barrelcomponent member located at the front end in the optical axis directionof said shooting optical system, of said plurality of lens-barrelcomponent members, has a front surface formed with an aperture of anoptical path constituting said shooting optical system; said shield caseincludes a rectangular front surface covering plate part covering thefront surface of said front end lens-barrel component member, and a sidesurface part bent from said front surface covering plate part; saidspring piece is formed in said front surface covering plate part; andsaid locking opening is provided in said side surface part.
 5. Thecamera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lens-barrel has afront end and a rear end at positions on both sides along the opticalaxis of said shooting optical system; said substrate is attached to therear end of said lens-barrel; said shield case includes a front splitbody covering a portion inclusive of the front end of said lens-barrel,and a rear split body covering a portion inclusive of said substrate;said clamping mechanism is provided over the range of said portioninclusive of the front end of said lens-barrel and said front splitbody; and, by said clamping mechanism, said front split body ispositioned relative to said lens-barrel and mounted to said lens-barrel,in the direction of stacking of said plurality of lens-barrel componentmembers.
 6. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidlens-barrel has a front end and a rear end at positions on both sidesalong the optical axis of said shooting optical system; said substrateis attached to the rear end of said lens-barrel; said shield caseincludes a front split body covering a portion inclusive of the frontend of said lens-barrel, and a rear split body covering a portioninclusive of said substrate; a front end lens-barrel component memberlocated at the front end in the optical axis direction, of saidplurality of lens-barrel component members, has a front surface formedwith an aperture of an optical path constituting said shooting opticalsystem; said front split body has a rectangular front surface coveringplate part covering said front surface of said front end lens-barrelcomponent member, and a side surface part bent from said front surfacecovering plate part; and said clamping mechanism has an elasticallydeformable spring piece provided in said front surface covering platepart, a locking opening provided at a position of said side surface partspaced from said spring piece along said optical axis, said frontsurface of said front end lens-barrel component member to which saidspring piece is locked, and a projection which is provided in saidlens-barrel component member stacked adjacently to said front endlens-barrel component member; wherein by the locking of said springpiece to said front surface of said front end lens-barrel componentmember and the insertion of said projection in said locking opening,said spring piece is elastically deformed, said spring piece is pressedagainst said front surface of said front end lens-barrel componentmember, and a portion of said projection located oppositely to saidfront surface of said front end lens-barrel component member is normallypressed against to an edge, located at a position spaced from saidspring piece, of said locking opening.
 7. The camera module as set forthin claim 6, wherein an end portion of said side surface part passingthrough said locking opening in a direction of spacing away from saidfront surface covering plate part is provided with a bent piece bent tothe outside of said side surface part.
 8. The camera module as set forthin claim 6, wherein the condition where said spring piece is pressedagainst to said front surface of said front end lens-barrel componentmember and said portion of said projection located oppositely to saidfront surface of said front end lens-barrel component member is normallypressed against said edge, located at a position spaced from said springpiece, of said locking opening, ensures that a gap along said opticalaxis direction is secured between said front surface of said front endlens-barrel component member and said front surface covering plate part.9. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shield caseis formed of an elastic and conductive material.
 10. The camera moduleas set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of lens-barrel componentmembers are stacked along the optical axis direction of said shootingoptical system.
 11. An electronic apparatus comprising: a casing; and acamera module incorporated in said casing; wherein said camera moduleincludes a camera body, and a shield case said camera body includes alens-barrel holding a shooting optical system, a substrate attached tosaid lens-barrel, an image pickup device incorporated in saidlens-barrel and operative to pick up an image of an object focused bysaid shooting optical system and to output an image pickup signal, and asignal processing unit provided on said substrate and operative toreceive said image pickup signal outputted from said image pickup deviceand to perform a predetermined signal processing, said shield casecovers said lens-barrel and said substrate and provides electromagneticshielding for said image pickup device and said signal processing unit,said lens-barrel includes a plurality of lens-barrel component membersstacked together, and a clamping mechanism is provided by which aportion of two said lens-barrel component members adjacent to each otheris clamped from both ends in the direction of said stacking, wherebysaid shield case is positioned relative to said lens-barrel and mountedto said lens-barrel, in the direction of said stacking.